Certification Engineer

About Electra

At Electra, we’re building the EL9 - a nine‑passenger, hybrid‑electric aircraft that takes off and lands in 150 feet. Our Ultra Short technology unlocks thousands of new operating locations and enables what we call Direct Aviation: quiet, point‑to‑point regional travel that gets people from where they are to where they want to go, without the congestion of major airports or the noise of conventional aviation.

A global company headquartered in Manassas, VA, Electra is backed by Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, and Safran, has filed for FAA Part 23 type certification, and carries 2,000+ intent to purchase from operators worldwide. We’re a team of ~100 people moving fast toward first EL9 test flights in 2027 and certification by late 2029 or 2030. Every hire matters at this stage - and this role is no exception.

As our Certification Engineer
, you’ll own the coordination between engineering functions and the FAA on our path to Part 23 type certification for the EL9. That means developing means of compliance, managing certification data, leading FAA reviews, and ensuring the right compliance approaches are in place across systems, structures, avionics, and propulsion. This is hands‑on, high‑visibility work - you’ll sit at the intersection of engineering, program management, and the regulator, and your output will directly shape whether and when this aircraft certifies.

• Coordinate the development of means and methods of compliance across engineering and product teams
• Author functional certification plans, certification test plans, and test reports
• Lead and participate in reviews with the FAA
• Collaborate with Designated Engineering Representatives (DERs) to develop and validate compliance approaches
  
  Manage and track certification data in requirements management tools, working closely with Systems Engineering, Program Management, and Product teams
  
  Interpret and apply FAA regulations - including Part 23 and associated standards and guidance material - to real design and testing decisions What You Bring
  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field
  • 3+ years of experience on FAA Type Certification projects
  • Demonstrated ability to interpret and communicate regulatory implications for design, testing, and analysis
  • Experience assigning regulatory requirements to design and compliance documentation
    
    Working knowledge of Part 23 Performance Based Rules and associated processes
    
    Experience developing and proposing detailed design standards and compliance approaches to the FAAHands‑on experience with requirements management tools (e.g., Jama, Polarion, DOORS)
    Familiarity with relevant aerospace standards such as ASTM F44, DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160G, ARP
    4754B, and ARP
    4761AStrong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable interfacing directly with regulators and senior technical leads Bonus Points
    • Experience on novel or clean‑sheet aircraft programs - particularly hybrid‑electric or unconventional propulsion architectures
      
      Prior work with the FAA’s Emerging Technology division or similar early‑stage regulatory engagement
      
      Familiarity with avionics or propulsion certification pathways under Part 23
      
      What We Offer
      • Competitive salary and equity
        
        Medical, dental, and vision insurance; STD, LTD, and life insurance
        
        Generous PTO, sick leave, and company holidays
        
        Paid winter break
        401(k) with immediate vesting
        
        Free catered lunches, coffee, snacks, and drinks at our Manassas headquarters
        
        Free on‑site parking